A deadly day and a US strategy shift

Sunday was the deadliest day for US forces in Iraq since the occupation began here six months ago. A string of ambushes underscored the biggest challenges before America as it seeks to pacify Iraq: Developing intelligence and training friendly Iraqi forces in order to stem the rise in attacks.

At least 15 US soldiers were killed and 21 wounded when the Chinook helicopter transferring them to Baghdad's airport for two weeks of home leave was reportedly shot down near the town of Fallujah, where attacks on coalition forces have soared in recent weeks. Coalition spokesman Col. William Darley said reports of a missile attack are "unconfirmed." The Associated Press and Reuters cited witnesses who saw a shoulder-launched missile strike the helicopter.

Another US soldier was killed when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, and there were unconfirmed reports of other US casualties across Iraq.

The US had indications this weekend would prove a deadly one, with Iraqi informants warning that "major operations" were planned against the coalition and rumors swirling in the markets and mosques of Baghdad that a "day of resistance" was planned for Saturday.

The attacks bring home the fact that even when there is advance warning, the coalition's enemies remain elusive. Paul Bremer, the top US administrator in Iraq, told reporters on Saturday after a bloody week that "to prevail we must shift and adapt."

He said Iraqis would be more involved in seeking out the two main threats to the coalition: The armed insurgents, many loyal to Saddam Hussein's ousted Baath regime, who are centered in the so-called "Sunni Triangle" near Baghdad; and the foreign Islamists who, the coalition says, are behind the suicide bombings and are probably tied to Al Qaeda.

"On the security front, we will accelerate the turnover of responsibility and authority to Iraqis,'' Mr. Bremer said. The reason: while US troops won the war in record time, limited language skills and local contacts have gotten in the way of developing relationships that could produce good intelligence. For example, the local shopkeeper who sees men in his neighborhood carrying missiles into a warehouse or an imam who notices an increase in foreign men attending prayers could help uncover a scattered and opportunistic resistance.

"Iraqis bring vital language and cultural skills to the task of fighting terrorism ... they will recognize the strangers, they will hear different accents [and] be able to help us identify the strangers and particularly the foreign fighters," Bremer said.

Bremer also promised faster Iraqification of security forces, with accelerated training and equipping of Iraqi police, soldiers, and border guards. Bremer said the country's civil defense corps will double by next March from about 70,000, and that 200,000 Iraqis would be involved in securing the country by September.

Analysts say that involving more Iraqis, particularly in intelligence work, is a vital step, but warn that it will take time to yield results.

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